Cigar-wrapper counter.



D. STRASSER.

CIGAR WRAPPER COUNTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1912. 1,061,930. Patented May13,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

D. STRASSER.

CIGAR WRAPPER COUNTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1912.

Patented May 13, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CID-,WASHINGTON, n. c.

D. STRASSER.

CIGAR WRAPPER COUNTER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 9, 1912.

1,061,930, Patented May 13, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

:DLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Cm, WASHINGTON, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID STRASSER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIGAR-WRAPPER COUNTER.

Application filed May 9, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, DAVID STRAssER, a citizenof the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New Yorkand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Cigarrapper Counters, of which the-following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for counting and registering thenumber of cigar wrappers estimated by an inspector to be obtainable fromtobacco leaves examined by him and its novelty consists in theconstruction and adaptation of the parts, as will be more fullyhereinafter pointed out.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple means whereby aninspector of tobacco leaves may be relieved of the tedium and effortofattempting to keep a mental count of the number of possible wrappers inthe leaves inspected and to eliminate the numerous sources of errorotherwise inherent in the situation.

Figure 1 is a front elevation in miniature of a preferred form of adevice embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the samewith the cover open; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical sectionof the same on the plane of the line 3"?) in Fig. 2. but on an enlargedscale; Fig. 4-. is a detail of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 3with a substitution of some of the parts; Fig. 5 is an enlarged rearelevation of the registering mechanism, parts being broken away to showconcealed parts. the rear wall being also shown removed; Fig. 6 is acentral vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 5 on the plane ofthe line 66 in Fig. Fig. 7 is a view of a port-ion of the parts shown inFig. 5 with some of the parts in a different position; Fig. 8 is a reardetail of the resetting device; Fig. 9 is a detail of the gravity pawl;Fig. 10 is a perspective of said pawl. Fig. 11 is a perspective inminiature of a form of the device provided with a plurality of countingkeys and mechanism; Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal section of thesame on the plane of the line 12--12 in Fig. 15, but on an enlargedscale; Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 11; Fig.14 is a detail front elevation of a portion of the same; Fig. 15 is aplan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 3

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 19.13.

Serial No. 696,145.

with the cover removed; and Fig. 16 is a vertical longitudinal sectionon the plane of the line 1616 in Fig. 15.

Inthe drawings, 20 represents the legs or other suitable form of supportof table or platform 21, upon which the other parts of the device aresupported or to which they are secured. A cover 22 is hinged orotherwise secured to the table along one edge. It has a rounded uppersurface 23, is provided with an aperture 2% to receive an actuatingbutton 25 and on its under surface is provided with a slidable actuatorindicated at 26 and which is made of a strip of metal suitably slottedto permit of it being moved to a limited extent lengthwise of the coverupon screws 27, 27, and which is provided on its under surface with acontact knob 28. A hook and pin indicated at 29 serves to hold the coverin a closed position when desired.

lVithin a recess on the support 21 there is arranged a system of leversof which 30 is a lever normally pressed upward by a spring 31 and 32 isa lever moved by the depression. of the lever 30 and which directly orindirectly moves the actuating lever #10 of the counting mechanism. 33is a spring which is secured to the table 21 and serves to constantlyrestore to position the actuator 26 or the cover 22 when either aredepressed.

The counting device includes a suitable casing 35 secured to the table21 by any suitable means as screws 36. It is provided with a dial face37, having one or more apertures 38 through which numbers displayed onnumeral wheels are visible and with a hand or pointer 39 adapted totravel circularly to indicate the units counted, the periphery of thedial 37 being graduated and annotated for that purpose. A lock (notshown) is provided for the casing.

The actuating lever 40 (or a lever to which itis connected) projectsinto the easing beneath the register. In proximity to it is a lever e1suitably pivoted at 12 on a bracket 43 secured to the casing andprovided with a pawl 4-4 at its upper end. A retracting spring 15 isadapted to restore the lever 11 to its normal position after actuation,and a retracting spring 450 serves to hold the pawl 1 i against thewheel 416.

A toothed units wheel 16 is rigidly mounted on a central. shaft 4'7 onthe front end of which is mounted the pointer 39. There also mounted onthe same shaft the rear of the units wheel a cam 48. A spring pressedpawl 49 of usual construction engages the teeth of the units wheel toprevent its accidental backward rotation.

Arranged around the units wheel 46 at suitable intervals, and eachpivoted on small shafts set in the casing, are the registering wheels50, 51 and 52, each provided with a suitable number of teeth and withnumbers corresponding thereto on their faces. The wheel 50 is adapted tobe moved one notch or tooth to indicate a complete revolution of theunits wheel 46, the wheel 51 is similarly adapted to be moved one notchor tooth to indicate a complete revolution of the wheel 50, and thewheel 52 is similarly adapted to be moved one notch or tooth to indicatea complete revolution of the wheel 51.

On a pivot 60 conveniently located is mounted a bell crank lever made intwo pieces, one 61 provided at its outer end with a hammer 63 adapted tostrike a gong 64 pivoted at 65 to the casing 35 and the other 62provided at its outer end with an elastic tooth 66 and at one side witha pin 67 adapted to be engaged by the cam 48 on the units wheel 46. Thetwo arms 61 and 62 are not in the same vertical plane but are connectedby the rods 600 (see Fig. 10).

When the lever 40 is moved as hereinafter described, the pawl lever 41is moved and its pawl tooth 44 engaging one of the teeth of the unitswheel 46 moves that wheel one notch or tooth, backward rotation from anycause being prevented by the pawl 49. As the units wheel turns, the cam48 turns with it, and engaging the pin 67, on the arm 62, of the bellcrank lever lifts the latter and the hammer 63 until the units wheel hasmade a complete revolution when the pin 67 snaps by gravity from thesurface of the cam 48 and the hammer 63 strikes the bell 64 to signalthe operator that the revolution of the units wheel 46 has been accomplished. In falling, however, the elastic tooth 66 on the arm 62 engagesthe edge of the wheel 50 and moves the latter one notch or tooth, thuscausing to be indicated on the dial the fact that a complete revolutionof the units wheel has been made. As the units wheel continues to berotated, the arm 62 is gradually lifted and an elastic member 660 uponwhich the tooth 66 is mounted (and which is secured to the arm 62)allows the tooth 66 to slip over the wheel 50 and to move to a newengaging position (see Fig. 9).

Any suitable means may be provided for carrying from the wheel 50 to thewheel 51 and from the latter to the wheel 52. The means shown comprise apawl 501 secured on the shaft of the wheel 50 and which is in the planeof the wheel 51 so that when the wheel 50 makes a complete revolution,this pawl strikes a tooth of the wheel 51 and moves it one notch.Over-rotation of the wheel 50 is prevented by a spring detent 503. In asimilar way a pawl on the shaft of the wheel 51 carries to the wheel 52and the wheel 51 is prevented fron'i over-rotation by a spring detent.

On the shaft of each wheel 50, 51 and 52 is a small gear wheel, that ofthe wheel 51 not being in the same plane with those of the others. Theseare indicated in diagram in Fig. 8 and are designated 505, 515 and 525respectively. On the wheel 51 is mounted a button 517. The wheel 515 isnormally spring pressed out of the plane of the wheels 505 and 525. Thisbutton 517 being moved, the wheel 515 is thrown. into the plane of andinto engagement with the wheels 505 and 525 and, being'rotated, itrestores all of the wheels to Zero, serving as a simple re settingmechanism.

In the form of the device above described, if the operator desires touse the cover 22 as a means for counting the tobacco leaves inspected,he moves the sliding actuator 26 until the knob 28 is in contact withthe lever 30 (or some projection thereon) when the cover is depressed.Then at each downward movement of the cover the levers 30 and 32 aremoved, the lever 40 is moved and the counting mechanism actuated asdescribed. If he desires not to use the cover as the counting means, hefastens it to the table, slides the actuator 26 into the positionindicated in Fig. 4 and inserts the button 25 in the cover. Then foreach item he desires to register, he presses down the button 25 and thisengaging the end of the actuator 26 and in turn the lever 30 moves thelever 40 as before.

In order to simplify the device and to enable the operator to separatethe leaves inspected into those from which 1, 2 or 3 wrappers may beobtainable and in order to relieve the operator of the labor of makingmore than one stroke for each of such leaves, I have devised themultiple counter shown in Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive. In this form of thedevice, the table or platform 21 is provided with a series ofdepressions, each one of which contains a lever system, the levers beingof different lengths. The shortest of the systems comprises a lever 30normally pressed upward by a spring 31 and includes a lever 32, which inturn actuates the lever 40 of a counter (see Fig. 16). This corre spondsto the lever system previously described. The longest of the systems(see Fig. 12) comprises a lever 30, a spring 31, a lever 32 and lever40, but it also comprises additional levers 300 and 301. Theintermediate lever system has similar additional levers, but they areshorter. The cover 22 is also provided with three buttons 25, 250- and251, the last two each cooperating with a separate lever system. Thereare provided three counting mechanisms, each connected with one leversystem, and each actuated from a lever 40. These counting mechanisms areidentical with that already described, butwhile on one of the unitswheels is provided with 50 teeth and the dial 37 is correspondinglygraduated, on another a dial 370 is graduated to 25 and the units wheelback of it provided with 25 teeth and on the third dial 371 is graduatedto 17 and the units wheel back of it is provided with 17 teeth. In usingthis multiple device, the operator lays the tobacco leaf on top of thecover 22. If he estimates that one Wrapper can be obtained from it, helays it down and pushes the button 251, moving the pointer on the dial37 one notch. If he estimates that two wrappers can be obtained from it,he lays it down in a separate place and pushes the button 250 and movesthe pointer on the dial 370 one notch. If he estimates that threewrappers can be obtained from it, he lays it down separately from theother leaves and pushes the button 25 and moves the pointer on the dial371 one notch. hen he has 50 leaves in the first pile, the bell back ofthe dial 37 rings, when he has 25 leaves in the second pile the bellback of the dial 370 rings and when he has 17 leaves in the third pilethe bell back of the dial 371 rings. And in each pile there is thus material for 50 wrappers.

The motion of the lever 10 is shown as vertical. It will be noticed thatthe lever 11 is not straight but is provided with a 1 means torretracting it to position.

curved tail adapted to be engaged by the lever 40. The result is thatthe motion of the lever 40 in a vertical plane is transmitted to thetail of the lever 41 with a rolling or sliding movement which is veryeasy and not abrupt and which renders the actuation of the countingmechanism simple.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with acounting mechanism, of an operating system therefor, and two means forseparately operating the system, one including a depressible cover and aretracting device therefor and the other in cluding a key and aretracting device therefor, the key being movable through the cover.

2. In a tobacco wrapper counter, a support, a counter, means fordirectly actuating the counter, including a movable member, twooperating means, and an intermediate actuator movable to two positionsin each of which it is adapted to cooperate with the movable member andone of said means.

3. In a tobacco wrapper counter, a support, a counter, means fordirectly actuating the counter, including a movable member, twooperating means, and one intermediate actuator movable to two positionsin each of which it is adapted to cooperate with one of said means, oneof said means including a cover for the device.

4-. In a tobacco wrapper counter, a support, a counter, means fordirectly actuating the counter, including a movable member, twooperating means, and an intermediate actuator movable to two positions,in each of which it is adapted to cotiperate with the member and one ofsaid means, one of said means including a movable key.

In a tobacco wrapper counter, a support, a counter, means for directlyactuating the counter including a movable member, two operating means,and an intermediate actuator movable to two positions, in each of whichit is adapted to cooperate with the movable member and one of saidmeans,both

means being retractable after actuation.

6. In a tobacco wrapper counter, a support, a counter, means fordirectly actuating the counter, including a movable member, twooperating means, and an intermediate actuator movable to two positions,in each of which it is adapted to cotiperate with one of said means, oneof said means including a movable cover for the device and means forretractmg 1t to position.

7. In a tobacco wrapper counter, a support, a counter, means fordirectly actuating .the counter, including a movable member, twooperating means, and an intermediateactuator movable to two positions,in each of which it is adapted to cooperate the movable member and withone of said means, one of said means including a movable key and 8. In atobacco wrapper counter, a support, a counter, means for directlyactuating the counter, mcludlng a movable member,

'two operating means, one being the cover of 'the device and the other akey, each having suitable retracting means, in combination with asliding actuator intermediate the movable member and both means andadapted to engage each.

9. In a device of the character described, comprising a counter, itsactuating lever, a

system of levers by which it may be act-uated, a support for the latter,a cover for the support and levers, a slide mounted on the cover andengaging the lever system, a key adapted to contact with the slide, andmeans for retracting the cover to position after movement.

10. A device of the character described, comprising a counter, itsactuating lever, a system of levers by which it may be actuated, asupport for the latter, a cover for the support and levers, a slidemounted on the cover, and a key adapted to contact with the slide, saidslide constituting means for re tracting the key to position after itsmovement and also contacting with the lever system to operate the same.

11. A device of the character described, comprising a counter, itsactuating lever, a system of levers by which it may be actuated, asupport for the latter, a cover for the support and levers, a 'slidemounted on the cover, a key adapted. to contact with the slide, saidslide constituting means for re tracting the key to position aftermovement and being adapted to contact with the lever system'directlywhile in one position, an element carried by the slide and engaging thelever system when said slide is in another position and a-pin adapted tocontact with the slide when the element is in contact with the leversystem.

12. A device of the character described, comprising a counter, itsactuating lever, a system of levers by which it may be actuated, asupport for the latter, a cover for the support and levers, a slidemounted on the cover, a key adapted to contact with the slide, saidslide comprising a bar adapted to contact with the lever system directlywhile in one position, an element carried by the bar and engaging thelever system when the bar is in another position, and means forretracting the cover to position after movement.

1?). In a tobacco wrapper counter, a support, a counter, means fordirectly actuating the counter, including a movable member, twooperating means, and an intermediate actuator movable to two positions,in each of which it is adapted to cooperate with one of said means, andmeans for holding one actuating means inoperative while the other isemployed.

1.4. In a tobacco wrapper counter, a support, a counter, means fordirectly actuating the counter, including a movable member, twooperating means, and an intermediate actuator movable to two positions,in each of which it is adapted to cooperate with one of said means, oneof said means including a cover for the device and means for holding itimmovable.

15. In a tobacco wrapper counter, a sup port, a counter, means fordirectly actuating the counter, including a movable member, twooperating means, and an intermediate actuator movable to two positions,in each of which it is adapted to cooperate with one of said means, oneof said means including a movable and removable key.

16. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a counting i'nechanism, of an operating systemtherefor, and two means for separately operating the system, oneincluding a depressible cover and the other including a key, and acommon means for retracting either to position.

17. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a counting mechanism,

of an operating system therefor, and two means for separately actuatingthe system, one including a depressible cover and the other including akey, and a common means for retracting either to position, including a"spring under the cover.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination with acounting mechanism, of an operating system therefor, and two means forseparately operating the system, one including a depressible cover andthe other including a key, and a common means for retracting either toposition, including a spring under the cover.

19. In a device of the character described, the combination with acounting mechanism, of an operating system therefor, and two means forseparately operating the system, one including a depressible cover andthe other including a key, and a common device intermediate both meansand the counting mechanism and with which both means contact when moved.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination with acounting mechanism, of an operating system therefor, and two means forseparately operating the system, one including a depressible cover andthe other including a key, and a common device intermediate both meansand the counting mechanism and with which both means contact when moved,and means for retracting such common device.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination with a.counting mechanism, of an operating system therefor, and two means forseparately actuating the system, one including a depressible cover andthe other including a key, and a common device intermediate both meansand the counting mechanism and with which both means contact when moved,and means for retracting such common device, including a spring beneaththe cover.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID STRASSER. IVitnesses A. C. MoDoNNELL, MARY H. Liiwis.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

